Second phase of LEAP to take off…target three categories of beneficiaries

The Second Phase, of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, is scheduled to take off next month.

This was made known by officials of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment (MMYE) in Accra.

This initiative by the government is aimed at eliminating extreme poverty in the country, and also to improve livelihood of such families.

The National Coordinator of Social Protection, and also in charge of the LEAP programme, Angela Asante-Asare, said the second phase of the programme, would be targeting three categories of beneficiaries.

The beneficiaries will include, the aged, above 65 years (without subsistence support), orphans, the vulnerable and children (OVCs), through their care-givers and also persons with severe disabilities (without productive capacities).

“Households are not going to be handed cash, and left alone. They would be tasked to fulfil certain development-oriented conditions, to be able to remain on the support,” she added.

Mrs Asare said cash transfers have been proven in other countries to contribute immensely to the achievement of the totality of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG's).

Government introduced the programme, to be a supporting system for households, as a basic human need.

“The second phase of LEAP, is expected to target 20 districts, but also would be looking at a wider range of livelihoods, within the same communities,” she added.

Mrs. Asare noted that the original plan for the programme, was to disburse the cash transfer within 21 districts, but Bawku had been exempted, for now, until the government declared the district free of conflict.

“The second phase of payments of the LEAP programme, would be targeting a population of 3,200,” she added.

The first phase of the LEAP programme, witnessed a fixed payment, across all the 20 districts, with an amount of GH¢8.00, for a population of 1,600.

The second phase of the LEAP programme, thus recognises one eligible beneficiary to be paid GH¢8.00, two eligible beneficiaries to be paid GH¢10.00, whilst three beneficiaries, within a household, are to be given GH¢12.00, and also four or more eligible beneficiaries, within a household, would to be paid GH¢15.00.

On the June 2, 2008, Ghana Post would transfer the monies involved, to the communities, which would be access by the 20 districts on 3- 4 June.